Whenever I see people with planted tanks, bowls etc with above water plants like household plants that need to be in the soil I can't help but wonder abut bugs.

I mean, you can get all sort of nasty bugs in the wet soil like springtails and other mites and what if they get out and take over your house! Ok so it's a bit over dramatic but you get my point.

I was planning on doing something like that myself, with the house plants, maybe some pennywort and land moss but I just can't stand the idea of inviting more bugs into my home..
In case you did not catch that, I really do hate bugs =)

The terrestrial plants I use are all cuttings from indoor houseplants I'm already growing. No soil goes into the tank, they are stuck in with no roots, then grow new aquatic ones within a few weeks. They don't introduce bugs because they never had bugs in the first place.

I do have soil under my substrate but no unusual amount of creepy crawlies. I have seen tiny tiny bugs swimming around like pencil dot size and occasionally worms. But with the first introduction of fish they all seem to get eaten.

The terrestrial plants I use are all cuttings from indoor houseplants I'm already growing. No soil goes into the tank, they are stuck in with no roots, then grow new aquatic ones within a few weeks. They don't introduce bugs because they never had bugs in the first place.

I do have soil under my substrate but no unusual amount of creepy crawlies. I have seen tiny tiny bugs swimming around like pencil dot size and occasionally worms. But with the first introduction of fish they all seem to get eaten.

That makes sense. Could You help me with some examples? Other that photos? =)

Philodendron, Spathiphyllum, Pothos, Syngonium, are some popular houseplants that do well grown with roots in water. Springtails and soil mites will die pretty quickly away from the aquarium or their potted plants; they wont take over your house. However, there are all sorts of other microscopic mites in and around your house, including dry places, your bed, and in your skin. Get used to it; all animals have them, and some of them are important to our health. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2015...bug-than-human

I'm sorry but I got to face spiders part and I have to say f u man =) I'd rather not knowing. Thanks for the list of plants though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald

Philodendron, Spathiphyllum, Pothos, Syngonium, are some popular houseplants that do well grown with roots in water. Springtails and soil mites will die pretty quickly away from the aquarium or their potted plants; they wont take over your house. However, there are all sorts of other microscopic mites in and around your house, including dry places, your bed, and in your skin. Get used to it; all animals have them, and some of them are important to our health. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2015...bug-than-human

I don't know how to embed photos but here's a link to one of my tanks with emersed houseplants. Pictured are pothos, wandering Jew, Swedish ivy and arrowhead plant. I also have some spider plant in another tank. It really helps with nitrates and preventing algae by shading the water and eating excess nutrients that aquatic plants don't have access to if you don't inject CO2 (terrestrial plants can take advantage of much greater CO2 concentrations in the air).

Since there is no soil...there are no bugs. No fungus gnats,spiders,roly polys.pincher bugs..on and on.
You might get the usual pests on any house plant...mealies,spider mites..but with healthy plants and good air circulation,those are kept in check.
i'm big on Syngonium..but Spathiphyllum is good. Pothos is almost as good. There are plenty of others,especially in the Aroid family..Philodendrons to Dieffenbachia..etc.

Now,IF you grow the plants like pond plants..in a pot ( with drainage holes) of dirt with the top an inch above the water surface...you might get fungus gnats or springtails..the last the fish will eat.
But really,99% of the time they are grown 1" or less BELOW the surface. No bugs at all like my first answer.
Better to just grow in only water. How you support the plants is online..somethings are made like styrofoam cup holders..keeps the plant always the same level. Check 'em out!